Robert Earle (Bob) Essensa was drafted 69th overall in the 1983 Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.

After playing junior at Henry Carr, he enrolled at Michigan State University in 1983 and went 11-4-0 in 17 games as a CCHA freshman. The following year, he went 15-2-0 and was named a CCHA First Team All-Star. The junior season produced a result of 17-4-1 and a CCHA Second Team All-Star selection. In his senior year, Essensa went 19-3-1 for a four-year combined total of 62-13-2.

Essensa was 23 when he made his NHL debut in 1988-89 and went 6-8-3 in 20 games. In 1989-90, that record improved 18-9-5 with a 3.15 goals-against average, while being named the NHL All-Rookie goaltender. In 1990-91, Essensa posted four shutouts and won the Jets' Molson Cup award, given to the player with the most points accumulated through three-star selections at the conclusion of each game.

In 1991-92, Essensa registered a league best five shutouts and was the second runner up for the Vezina and Jennings trophies. After posting a career-high 33 games in 1992-93, Essensa was traded to the Detroit the Red Wings for Tim Cheveldae and Dallas Drake. But, he never got the playing time he had hoped for in the Motor City and played most of those two seasons in the minors.

In 1999-2000, Essensa rejoined the Phoenix Coyotes, the old Winnipeg Jets team, and posted a 13-10-3 record. On July 26, 2000, Essensa signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks and split goaltending duties first with Felix Potvin and then Dan Cloutier. He went 18-12 with a 2.68 GAA and helped the Canucks make the playoffs for the first time in five years. In the playoffs, he started two of the Canucks four games.

In September 2001, Essensa signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres where he will serve as backup to Martin Biron. In some circles he has been called the ultimate fill-in goaltender, never complaining about his role as second fiddle. Although he would like the chance at getting another starting role, at close to 37, he's content with where he is in Buffalo.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

W

L

T

SO

Avg

GP

W

L

T

SO

Avg

1981-82

Henry Carr Crusaders

ON-Jr.B

17

0

4.99

1981-82

Markham Waxers

ON-Jr.A

1

0

0

0

0

20.00

1982-83

Henry Carr Crusaders

ON-Jr.B

31

2

3.20

1982-83

Markham Waxers

ON-Jr.A

1

1

0

0

0

1.00

1983-84

Michigan State Spartans

CCHA

17

11

4

0

2

2.79

1984-85

Michigan State Spartans

CCHA

18

15

2

0

2

1.64

1985-86

Michigan State Spartans

CCHA

23

17

4

1

1

3.33

1986-87

Michigan State Spartans

CCHA

25

19

3

1

2

2.78

1987-88

Moncton Hawks

AHL

27

7

11

1

1

4.66

1988-89

Winnipeg Jets

NHL

20

6

8

3

1

3.70

1988-89

Fort Wayne Komets

IHL

22

14

7

0

0

3.26

1989-90

Winnipeg Jets

NHL

36

18

9

5

1

3.15

4

2

1

0

3.50

1989-90

Moncton Hawks

AHL

6

3

3

0

0

2.51

1989-90

Canada

WEC-A

4

0

2.97

1990-91

Winnipeg Jets

NHL

55

19

24

6

4

3.15

1990-91

Moncton Hawks

AHL

2

1

0

1

0

2.88

1991-92

Winnipeg Jets

NHL

47

21

17

6

5

2.88

1

0

0

0

5.45

1992-93

Winnipeg Jets

NHL

67

33

26

6

2

3.53

6

2

4

0

3.27

1993-94

Winnipeg Jets

NHL

56

19

30

6

1

3.85

1993-94

Detroit Red Wings

NHL

13

4

7

2

1

2.62

2

0

2

0

4.95

1994-95

San Diego Gulls

IHL

16

6

8

1

0

3.39

1

0

1

0

3.05

1995-96

Adirondack Red Wings

AHL

3

1

2

0

0

3.69

1995-96

Fort Wayne Komets

IHL

45

24

14

5

1

2.89

5

2

3

0

2.41

1996-97

Edmonton Oilers

NHL

19

4

8

0

1

2.83

1997-98

Edmonton Oilers

NHL

16

6

6

1

0

2.55

1

0

0

0

2.22

1998-99

Edmonton Oilers

NHL

39

12

14

6

0

2.75

1999-00

Phoenix Coyotes

NHL

30

13

10

3

1

2.78

2000-01

Vancouver Canucks

NHL

39

18

12

3

1

2.68

2

0

2

0

2.95

2001-02

Buffalo Sabres

NHL

9

0

5

0

0

2.91

NHL Totals

446

173

176

47

18

3.14

16

4

9

0

3.54

CCHA First All-Star Team (1985) CCHA Second All-Star Team (1986) NHL All-Rookie Team (1990)

Traded to Detroit by Winnipeg with Sergei Bautin for Tim Cheveldae and Dallas Drake, March 8, 1994. Traded to Edmonton by Detroit for future considerations, June 14, 1996. Signed as a free agent by Phoenix, September 5, 1999. Signed as a free agent by Vancouver, July 26, 2000. Signed as a free agent by Buffalo, August 3, 2001. Officially announced retirement September 10, 2002.